estuvo

Estuvo is the third-person singular form of the Spanish verb estar in the pretérito perfecto simple (preterite). It translates as “he was,” “she was,” or “you were” (formal) and is used to express a past state or a completed action at a specific moment.

The form is used to describe temporary locations, conditions, or emotions at a defined point in the past. It marks a state or event that is viewed as limited in time. Estuvo is contrasted with fue (the preterite of ser, used for inherent or defining characteristics) and with estaba (the imperfect form, used for ongoing or habitual past states without a definite endpoint).

Conjugation in pretérito simple:

yo estuve, tú estuviste, él/ella/usted estuvo, nosotros estuvimos, vosotros estuvisteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes estuvieron.

Examples:

- Él estuvo en la reunión ayer. (He was at the meeting yesterday.)

- Ella estuvo enferma la semana pasada. (She was ill last week.)

- Este lugar estuvo cerrado por reformas. (This place was closed for renovations.)

Etymology and usage note:

Estar derives from Latin stare, and estuvo reflects its historical development in the Spanish verb system. In narrative or everyday speech, estu ved commonly situates events in time, marks a temporary condition, or describes a momentary location within the past. The choice between estu vo, estu viste, and other forms depends on the subject and tense requirements of the sentence.